Wednesday, June 16, 2010

In an effort to legitimize its money-grab that almost broke apart the Big 12, Texas supporters continue to say the school would never consider joining the SEC because the league is not strong enough academically.

Once again, the Horns' point of view again reminds us that just because you're rich doesn't make you smart.

UT is an excellent public university, particularly since it floats on a nonstop gusher of oil money that gives it one of the largest endowments in the country, billions of dollars to support research and attract the best in students and faculty.

So, of course, UT's motives in its manipulation of at least three conferences was all about protecting academics. Really?

UT has already shown itself quite willing to compromise its academic standards when it pushed through a rule to allow partial academic qualifiers to play in the Big 12. The renegade SEC doesn't grant academic eligibility to partial qualifiers.

Had Texas jumped to the Pac-12, I'm sure its sports teams would have been cramming away for that next exam during the puddle-jumps to Pullman and Eugene. Not that the academic performance of UT athletes is all that scintillating.

In fact, check out this recent column by Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News. It shows that at on at least one NCAA academic gauge, the SEC kicks Big 12 -- and Bevo -- butt, just as it did in the last two BCS championship games. Read here.

UT is an excellent university, but school is out. Its recent machinations were all about money and power. The rest of the college footbal world, not nearly as dumb as Texas likes to think, can see that.

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Michael Gordon

Allegiance: Alabama
Favorite player: Johnny Musso . . . The Italian Stallion -- Sylvester Stallone is a plagiarist -- played more often in torn garb than the Incredible Hulk. (Musso was also a better blocker.)

Possibly disturbing fact: Trash-talked the infant son of Auburn friends after the kid projectile vomited in my living room the instant after an Alabama touchdown.

Possibly disturbing fact: Have an original 45 of “The Ballad of Archie Who” on the wall at home, right by the “Drink Barq’s – It’s Good” sign.

Courtney St. Onge

Allegiance: Auburn

Favorite player: Bo

Possibly disturbing fact: Had picture taken with Terry Bowden at a meet-and-greet following his undefeated season. Just for fun, I mailed it to him later, autographed by my uncle and me. Who knew he would actually need the "Good luck in your endeavors!"?

Other fact: It was my infant son that Michael Gordon trash-talked. Just so you know.

Possibly disturbing fact: Once thought it would be funny to teach my toddler to say "Roll Tide!" We practiced covertly. Then, one day, my wife the Auburn grad walked in. "Roll Tide!" my son said, perfectly. Turned out to be more funny in the conceptual stage.

Tommy Tomlinson

Allegiance: Georgia

Favorite player: The immortal Herschel Walker, who, by the way, is immortal

Possibly disturbing fact: Slept in car one Georgia-Florida weekend after last-minute decision to go to game. Sneaked into Jacksonville University dorms for showers. Thanks for lax security, Jax!